Recently

Some things have happened in my life that have given me cause to think. Really think about a lot of things. I have been spending a great deal of energy contemplating my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have known from an early age that Jesus Christ is in deed, the Son of the Living God. I have always felt that this is true. I have had these feelings reaffirmed to me countless times throughout my short life. I wanted to know at the age of fifteen that the church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints was His restored Gospel on the face of the Earth and that it was in fact t THE only church authorized to bear his name. I found myself in upstate NEW York in a grove of trees praying to know these things. When a spirit came over me testifying of truth. i received knowledge that day of the truthfulness of the Gospel, the source of the Book of Mormon, and the divine nature of the calling of Joseph Smith as the Prophet, Seer and Revelator of this, the last dispensation of the fullness of times. I was given a knowledge that man CANNOT give nor take away.
I have had my faith tried since then and I have never lost this testimony.
I am grateful for this abiding knowledge. I am grateful for the love of a Holy Father in Heaven that loves me because he knows me as an individual. I am grateful to be a member of the kingdom of God. I am thankful to have (a limited) knowledge of the Atonement. I am grateful for a testimony of the restoration and all of the blessings that are made possible to me by it. The sealing covenant, the priesthood, the understanding of the nature of God, the knowledge of repentance and the redemption of mankind through and infinite atonement.
I am so glad that My wife is my companion. I am ever grateful for our children and I strive each day to be worthy of an eternal relationship with each of them. I am grateful that my wife was brought up in a home that feared the Lord and gave her a legacy of faith. I am grateful to be a part of that legacy. I am thankful for what this legacy can mean for our children. So when they have cause to reflect, they may know where they can look for a redemption of their sins and everlasting life.
I am thankful for parents that love the Lord. I am grateful for the example that my mother has given me, She has taught me by example that "Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can."
I keep this record of sorts so that Our children can look back on the ins and outs of our lives together and be supported and reminded of the things that we went through. and be able to recognize that all things will be for their good if they keep their eye single to His glory.

God be thanked for the matchless gift of His Son.

Genius! I really admire these guys.

Mystery piano in woods perplexes police - CNN.com

CNN) -- Was it a theft? A prank? A roundabout effort to bring some holiday cheer to the police? Authorities in Harwich, Massachusetts, are probing the mysterious appearance of a piano, in good working condition, in the middle of the woods.

Discovered by a woman who was walking a trail, the Baldwin Acrosonic piano, model number 987, is intact -- and, apparently, in tune.
Sgt. Adam Hutton of the Harwich Police Department said information has been broadcast to all the other police departments in the Cape Cod area in hopes of drumming up a clue, however minor it may be.
But so far, the investigation is flat.
Also of note: Near the mystery piano -- serial number 733746 -- was a bench, positioned as though someone was about to play.

The piano was at the end of a dirt road, near a walking path to a footbridge in the middle of conservation land near the Cape.

It took a handful of police to move the piano into a vehicle to transport it to storage, so it would appear that putting it into the woods took more than one person.

Asked whether Harwich police will be holding a holiday party in the storage bay -- tickling the ivories, pouring eggnog -- while they await word of the piano's origin and fate, Hutton laughed. No such plans.
Harwich police have had some fun, though. Among the photos they sent to the news media is one of Officer Derek Dutra examining the piano in the woods. The police entitled the photo "Liberace."

Boys night out

Amy had bunko last night so I took one of the kids out while the others went to grandmas for the evening. Last night was Michael's turn and boy did we have fun!
There comes a time in every young man's life when he gets to do something monumental, something that will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on him. Last evening was one of those nights for my son. We went to Waffle House.
Michael had Brinner (Breakfast for Dinner) I had the usual, double 1/4 lb. Cheeseburger plate. This time I sprung for an extra hash brown which I had the cook make extra crisp and put it on top of the sandwich. he even through in an extra piece of cheese to glue it down with.See pics below.
We then went to see a Kung-fu flick about a Panda. Rockin! excellent choice for a night out with the fellas. After the movie we went over to Fuddruckers for an Oreo shake. The best for shakes.
Enjoy the pics!

Grandparent stuff

We had a visit from My grandfather the other week. He was up from Houston for his brother's Anniversary. the kids love it when he visits. It was a good time.

Grandma and Grandpa Tolman sent some things to the kids the other day from their recent trip to California. (The state Michael wants to visit the most) They enjoyed every thing they got especially the shirts. A side note; I am all about free clothes for the kids. Amy still thinks the chocolate is for her even though we all know it isn't.

The transformation of OBAMAKINS (not to be confused with a republican who has finally seen the light)

Start with a pumpkin that is ready for CHANGE. Five work best!

Copy the font from Obama's website. While you are there take a moment to browse the site, learn where he stands on the issues that are important to you.

Take out all the insides. If you like roast the seeds. We personally opt to scatter them in the yard in the hopes of growing more next summer thus lowering our tax burden (in Ohio for some strange reason pumpkins are not considered food and are therefore taxed). Then cut out the letters following the stencil. A variety of tools can be used here. I bought a fancy pumpkin carver but as I did not have 4 AA batteries I dug out the drimmel (thanks mom and dad, who would have ever thought that your gift would have been used to help support the Democratic candidate).

Once you have carved out all the pumpkins line them up to spell out your support for the man who can bring change to the country.

Light them up and watch them glow!!!!

HALLOWEEN and other pics

The three oldest ready for a fun filled night of begging. Jaisen dressed up like her grandma Tolman (when she was younger). Michael is the hero here by to be known as the "Recyclanator" and Hadassah is his arch nemesis the "Litter Bug." For those of you who pay close attention, yes that is the same butterfly costume she has worn for the past two years, only now it is even better with a bunch of litter stapled to it. Her love of all things butterfly has turned her into quite our little spend thrift. If you are wondering where Forrester is he decided to take a nap right when the festivities where getting under way. He was to be a chili pepper but sorry no picks of that. So instead just some regular photos of him...